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Tomoya Tokita

ときた ともや

Tokita Tomoya

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1969-05-21 （Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
haiku poet, poet
Active Years
1996-
Affiliations
Uoza (literary circle), Kumo (literary circle; served as editor-in-chief), Organ (quarterly literary magazine; founding member)
Memberships
Uoza, Kumo
Influenced By
Kyotaro Imai
Influenced
Sakae Enomaru, Seki Etsushi

Education

Sophia University
Faculty of Humanities, Department of Philosophy / Philosophy
Degree: 学士
Country: Japan
Toyo University Graduate School
Master's program (doctoral preparatory course)
Degree: 修士過程修了
Country: Japan
Completed master's-level (doctoral preparatory) program

Awards

Haiku Kenkyu Award
2001
Work: 'Kanashimi no Ato' (50 haiku)
Organization: Haiku Kenkyu (Haiku Research)
Result: winner
Haijin-kai Newcomer Award
2005
Work: Haiku collection 'Koe Futatsu'
Organization: Haijin Association
Result: winner
Tanaka Hiroaki Prize
2015
Work: Haiku collection 'Kite and Cylinder'
Organization: Tanaka Hiroaki Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Koe Futatsu

2005 Haiku collection

The author's first haiku collection, gathering poems that use everyday motifs and a calm perspective to evoke subtle perceptual dislocations.

everyday lifeseasonal sensibilitytranquility

A Joyful Introduction to Haiku from Age 60

2008 instructional

An introductory guide that explains how to compose and enjoy haiku, aimed at older adults.

haiku instructioncreative basics

Kite and Cylinder

2014 Haiku collection

The second haiku collection, continuing the mentor's restrained style while presenting many poems that subtly distort perspectives of reality; it received an award.

shifts of perspectivethe uncanny in daily lifeseasons

Nippon Selection 21 (contribution)

2009 Anthology (contribution)

A contribution to an anthology collecting contemporary haiku.

contemporary haiku

Bibliography

  • Koe Futatsu, Kinoyama Bunko, 2005
  • A Joyful Introduction to Haiku from Age 60, Yuraku Publishing, 2008
  • Anthology 'Nippon Selection 21', Ushurin, 2009 (contribution)
  • Kite and Cylinder, Furansudo, 2014

Style & Themes

Literary Style
tranquil, restrained stylequiet depiction of everyday detailsuse of perspectival shiftseconomical expression
Recurring Motifs
small everyday objectsseasonal changehousehold scenes

Legacy

A contemporary haiku poet noted for inheriting his mentor's serene style while introducing subtle perspectival shifts in everyday scenes. He has received several awards and collaborated with peers to expand his presence in the haiku community.

Quotes

  • Fill the glass with water — the water now winterish
    Source: Haiku collection / work (detailed source unknown)
  • From tatami to autumn grass the house continues
    Source: Haiku (source unknown)

Trivia

  • Joined the Uoza literary circle in 1996 and studied under Kyotaro Imai.
  • Won the Haijin-kai Newcomer Award in 2005 for his first collection 'Koe Futatsu'.
  • In 2015 he was a founding member of the quarterly magazine 'Organ' and won the Tanaka Hiroaki Prize that year for 'Kite and Cylinder'.
  • Has collaborated with peers such as Sakae Enomaru and Seki Etsushi in the haiku unit SST.